Fluid pressure regulator with automatic means for shutting off the fluid



Jan. 5, 1954 v. EY 2,664,672

FLUID PRESSURE REGULATOR WITH AUTOMATIC MEANS FOR SHUTTING OFF THE FLUID Filed Oct. 20, 1950 5 Sheets-Sheet l a INVENTOR.

Jan. 5, 1954 Filed Oct. 20, 1950 V. EY FLUID PRESSURE REGULATOR WITH AUTOMATIC MEANS FOR SHUTTING OFF THE-FLUID 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR. V1670? 5y imzda Jan. 5, 1954 v; EY 2,664,672

FLUID PRESSURE REGULATOR WITH AUTOMATIC MEANS FOR SHUTTING OFF THE FLUID Filed Oct. 20, 1950 3 Sheets-Sheet 5 720 INVENTOR.

Patented Jan. 5, 1 954 FLUID PRESSURE REGULATOR WITH AUTO- MATIC MEANS FOR SHUTTING OFF THE FLUID Victor Ey, Woodside, N. Y.

I Application October 20, 1950, Serial No. 191,179

4 Claims.

This invention relates to fluid pressure regulators and has particular reference to a regulator of said character having safety means for shutting off the flow of the fluid at a predetermined pressure and for venting the fluid to the atmosphere in the event that the pressure within the regulator exceeds said predetermined pressure.

Regulators of this type are installed in homes, buildings andthe like for reducing the pressure of gas admitted from the high pressure line and for supplying the same under reduced pressure through the service line for heating, cooking,-

lighting and the like. Such regulators embody a valve closure element which is actuated for opening and closing the valve thereof in accordance with the supply ofgas required by movement of a flexible diaphragm having a weight affixed thereto for effecting movement thereof in one direction and which has the pressure of the gas within the regulator exerted thereagainst for movement of the diaphragm in the opposite direction. The invention also comprehends a fluid pressure regulator for supplying gas to consumers and which regulator is so constructed and arranged as to automatically shut off the flow of gas from the inlet to prevent the flow thereof through the outlet of the regulator and to the consumer in the event that the pressure within the regulator exceeds a predetermined limit.

Another object of the invention is the provision of a regulator of said character having an expansion device which is normally tensioned against valve means in the diaphragm for retaining the same in closed relation and which is automatically released by increase of the pressure of the gas in the regulator beyond a predetermined limit whereby the valve means is opened to permit of the venting of the gas to the atmosphere.

Still another object of the invention is the provision of a regulator of the character described in which the valve closure element for regulating the flow of the gaseous fluid through the regulator is pivoted to a lever having one end interposed between said expansion device and said diaphragm valve means for movement of the lever with the diaphragm for regulating the flow of fluid through the regulator and which lever forms an abutment for limiting the movement of the expansion device with the diaphragm to thereby release the same for venting the regulator in the event the pressure within the regulator increases so as to move the diaphragm beyond a predetermined limit.

Still another object of the invention is in the provision of a regulator embodying a modified form in which a mercury seal is provided for sealing off the flow of gaseous fluid from" the regulator to the vent until the pressure in the regulator exceeds a predetermined limit which is set for venting the fluid to the atmosphere at a higher pressure than the pressure at which the expansion device is released to move the valve element to closed relation.

With the foregoing and other objects in view, reference is now made to the following specification and accompanying drawings in which the preferred embodiment of the invention is illus trated.

' In the drawings: v

Fig. 1 is a vertical sectional view through a fluid pressure regulator constructed in accordance with the invention and illustrating the same in closed relation.

Fig. 2 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view through the valve closure element and valve port. r Fig. 3 is a horizontal sectional view taken approximately on line 3-3 of Fig. 2.

Fig. 4 is a horizontal sectional view taken approximately on line 4-4 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 5 is a vertical sectional View taken approximately on line 5-5 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 6 is a vertical sectional view taken approximately on line 6-6 of Fig. 1 and illustrating the expansion device in released relation and the valve through the diaphragm in open relation to vent the regulator.

Fig. '7 is a vertical sectional view through a fluid pressure regulator illustrating a modified form of the invention.

Fig. 8 is a fragmentary sectional View taken approximately on line 88 of Fig. 7.

Fig. 9 is a fragmentary sectional view showing the upper portion of the regulator with a spring for augmenting the pressure of the Weight on the diaphragm.

Referring to the drawings by characters of reference, the regulator illustrated is shown in its application for use in supplying gas to homes, buildings and the like. The regulator is adapted to be connected with the high pressure supply line leading into the building from the main in the street containing gas which may have a pressure of 10 to '75 lbs. per square inch and which is reduced by the regulator for use at approximately v lb. pressure.

The regulator includes a casing Ill having threaded inlet and outlet openings II and I2 arranged in axial alignment at one side thereof and adapted to be respectively connected with a high pressure supply line and a low pressure service line. Intermediate the inlet and outlet openings II and I2 the casing is formed with a cylindrical cavity I3 which opens through one side of the casing and communicates at its inner end with the hollow interior I4 of the casing. Snugly fitted into said cavity is a cylindrical member I5 having a headed outer end secured against the side of the casing by screws I6. The cylindrical member I5 is formed with a bore I'I arranged in axial alignment with the inlet and outlet openings I I and I2 and forming a passageway therebetween in which is arranged a valve closure element I8 pivotally mounted on a pivot pin I9 on the end of a lever projecting into said passageway through a slot H. The slot 2I extends vertically through the inner end of said cylindrical member and opens into said passageway longitudinally thereof with the inner end of said lever protruding therethrough and projecting into the hollow interior I4 of the casing. The lever 20 is rockable in said slot on a cross pin 22 for imparting reciprocatory movement to the valve closure element I8 toward and away from a valve seat in response to change of pressure in the hollow interior I4 as will be more full explained hereinafter.

The valve closure element I3 is bifurcated at its upper end through which furcations 23 the pivot pin I9 extends for pivotally connecting said element to the outer end 24 of the lever 26. The lower end of the closure element is of general oval formation in vertical section and of circular formation in horizontal section so as to provide an arcuate or spherical peripheral wall portion 25 at the lower end thereof. The said element is formed with an annular recess 26 in the lower end wall thereof in which is fitted a fibrous disk 21 fashioned from leather or other equivalent material. The said closure element is mounted for guided reciprocatory movement in the passageway I1 on balls 28 disposed for free turning movement in cylindrical sockets 29 arranged in said closure element about the axis thereof. The balls are three in number and are disposed with adjacent balls spaced apart an angle of 120 in a plane extending horizontally through the closure element with the balls engaging against a center pin 3!! arranged vertically at the intersection of the cylindrical sockets. The balls protrude through the outer ends of said sockets for snug rolling engagement against the peripheral wall of the passageway thereby centering the lower end of the closure element with reference to the valve seat when in closed relation so as to prevent escape of gas and permit slight variation of pressure in the casing to efiect movement thereof and to avoid sticking or freezing of the valve element.

The valve seat is formed on the inner end of a bushing 3! fitted in the reduced inner end 32 of the inlet opening II and has its protruding lower end threadedly engaged by a nut 33 for securing the bushing in position. The bushing is formed with an enlarged or flanged inner end 34 which is fitted in a recess in the inner end of the reduced portion of the inlet opening I I. The flanged inner end 34 is provided with an annular recess defining an upstanding peripheral wall 35 surrounding the central opening or valve port 35 in the bushing 3| which peripheral wall is formed with a rounded upper end forming a valve seat 31 adapted to be engaged by the disk 21 for clos ing the inlet opening II. Concentric with and surrounding the valve seat 31 in spaced relation thereto is an inverted frusto-conical wall 38 providing a secondary or emergency valve seat which is adapted to be engaged by the spherical wall portion 25 for positively shutting 01f the flow of gas through the inlet opening in the event that the fibrous disk 21 is fractured for any reason such as by excess pressure within the casing. The spherical wall portion 25 of the closure element I8 engages against the frusto-conical wall portion 38 annularly in tangent relation therewith whereby the closure element will seat on said secondary or emergency valve seat to close the valve port irrespective of whether or not the closure element engages the seat in exact axial relation.

The lever arm 29 has rocking movement on the cross pin 22 by the pressure differential on opposite sides of a diaphragm 40 which is arranged with its marginal edge portion secured on the annular rim II by a removable cover 42. The cover 42 has a threaded vent opening 43 which is adapted to receive a vent pipe (not shown) extending through the roof or to the outside of the building for venting the chamber 44 above the diaphragm to the atmosphere. The diaphragm is provided with an apertured stud 45 which extends downwardly through a centrally apertured cup 45 with the threaded lower end thereof anchored in the upper end of a cylindrical member 41 so as to secure the cup against the upper face of the diaphragm and the cylindrical member in depending relation against the lower face thereof. The opening 48 in the stud 45 provides a passageway through the diaphragm between the lower chamber 50 and the upper chamber 44. The said passageway is normally closed by a ball valve 5| but which is adapted to be opened in case of emergency so as to establish communication between said upper and lower chambers for permitting of the flow of gas in the lower chamber to pass through the upper chamber and be vented to the atmosphere.

The diaphragm 40 is weighted by the cylindrical member 41 to thereby maintain downward pressure on the diaphragm in opposition to upward pressure of the gas within the lower chamber 50. The cylindrical member 41 is guided in its movement by the cylindrical wall portion 52 of the casing within which the lower portion of the cylindrical member has free sliding movement with the lower end thereof normally spaced from the bottom wall 53. The cylindrical member 41 is formed with a vertical bore 54 opening through the opposite ends thereof and communicating with said bore substantially centrally thereof is a vertical slot 55 which opens through one side thereof. The core 54 is threaded at its upper end in which is secured the stud 45. Arranged in the lower portion of said bore is an expansion device 55 and between said expansion device and the ball valve BI is an intermediate element 51 having a horizontal bore 58 opening through the opposite side faces thereof in which the ball shaped end 53 of the lever 20 is fitted. The expansion device 56 consists of a coiled expansion spring 6E3 arranged in tensioned relation in a hollow cylindrical member BI with the lower end of said spring engaging against the bottom wall thereof and with the upper end of said spring engaging against the lower Wall of said intermediate element 51. The expansion spring an; functions to maintain the intermediate element in tensioned engagement, against. the ball valve 5t so as to normally close the passageway 4.8- between the upper. and lower chambers 44 and 59.. The spring 611 also functions to hold the inner end of the lever 28 in position so as to rock on the cross. pin 22 in accordance with the movement of the weight-or cylindrical member ill.

The expansion device 5'6 is normally retained in. the bore Ed by a spring detent 62. The detent consists of a spherical element 63 and a coiled expansion spring 64' arranged in a lateral opening 65, in, the cylindrical member or weight dz? with the spherical element disposed in protruding relation and tensioned against the recessed face 66 of the cylindrical member 6!. A screw plug 6.: closes the outer end of the opening at and retains the spring against the spherical element 63.

It is to be understoo .1 that when the valve closure element 18 is engaged on the valve seat 31 so as to close the valve port 36, the inner end 59' of the lever 29 is, held against upward movement. In the event that the valve is closed and the pressure in the lower chamber 5i! continues to increase for any reason so as to force the diaphragm 40 upwardly, the. cylindrical member or weight 41 will move upwardly therewith. The lever will prevent upward movement or the expansion device 58 whereby the expansion device: will be forced out of engagement with the detent 62,. The spring Eli will then be released to force the cylindrical member 6i downwardly against: the bottom wall 53 of the casing. This will release the pressure of the spring against the ball valve 5! to thereby open the passageway 48 as illustrated in Fig. 6 of the drawings for the discharge of gas from the lower chamber 5.0. to the atmosphere. The spring so will continue to maintain the lever 20 in upward relation to thereby hold the valve l8 closed.

The regulator also includes automatic means for shutting off the flow of gaseous fluid through the valve port. 36 in the event of fire in the home or building in which the regulator is installed. The said means consists of a housing i=2 secured at its upper end in a threaded opening it in the bottom wall 53 of the casing i it so that the hous ing depends therefrom in axial vertical alignment with the weight or cylindrical member ll. Arranged within the casing is a. plunger i2 having an annular flange '53 at its upper end and an annular recess it adjacent its lower end of V shaped formation in vertical section. A coiled expansion spring i5 is arranged about the plunger 12 between the flange l3 and the inwardly directed wall portion it of the housing '56. The recessed portion M of the plunger is located in the thin Walled lower extremity ll of the housing which is formed to provide a v shaped recess it extending annularly about the recess it and protruding outwardly beyond the Wall portion id. The annular space defined by the recesses "is and 18 within the extremity ll of the housing is filled with a fuse metal 39 or a metal of low melting point which retains, the plunger ii. in position in the housing and the spring iii in tensioned relation. The housing ill is preferably fashioned of aluminum or other equivalent ma terial while the lower extremity ll is of reduced thickness in order that the fuse metal l5 will be quickly heated and melted in case of tire. The f-use metal will then give way whereupon the spring 15 will jam the plunger is. upwardly against the weight or cylindrical member 3? which. will force the same upwardly and swing the inner end 59 of the lever 2o, upwardly to thereby force the closure member [8 downward- 1y against its seat 3-1.

This action of the spring 75 may possibly fracture the fibrous disk 21 so that the samev will fail to close the valve port 35. In such event, the closure member ill will be forced downwardly so that the spherical lower end 25 thereof will be impinged againnt the conical emergency seat 33 in order to insure complete closure of the valve port 36.

The cup 4c is adapted to receive small particles 8| such as shot and the like to augment the weight of the cylindrical member til, it being understood that the weight on the diaphragm 48 determines the pressure of the fluid at the outlet E2.

The intermediate element 57 is formed with a circular recess 82 in the upper face thereof for centralizing the ball valve with reference to the seat 83 at the lower end of the passageway 48 and for retaining the same thereon.

It will be understood that with the flow of gaseous fluid through the outlet l2 in accordance with the consumers requirement, the pressure within the casing below the diaphragm 40 decreases. This causes the weight 17 to descend together with the lever 28 which effects the opening of the valve element 18 in relation to the requirement of the consumer. Since the gaseous fluid at the inlet 5! is at a pressure of 10 to pounds per square inch, a positive pressure of the gaseous fluid will exist in the lower end of the bore I! and in the slot 2| below the lever 20 and since there is a flow of the gaseous fluid through the outlet opening I2 a negative pressure will exist in the slot 2| above the lever 29. This causes the flow of the gaseous fluid in and out of the lower chamber 56 which regulates the pressure therein. With the lever 28 set to provide an outlet pressure of one-fifth of a pound per square inch, the pressure of the gaseous fluid within the casing below the diaphragm so will also be approximately one-fifth of a pound per square inch. By changing the pivotal point 22 of the lever toward the free end thereof, de-

creases the leverage action and allows for a lower inlet pressure of the fluid and changing the pivotal point toward the valve increases the leverage and allows for a higher inlet pressure. Thus the valve may be set to provide for different inlet pressures.

In the modified form of the invention shown in Figs. 7 and 8 of the drawings, the regulator is constructed for venting the fluid to the atmosphere at a higher pressure than the pressure at which the expansion device is released to move the valve element to closed relation. In this form of the invention the regulator includes a casing 82 having inlet and outlet openings 33 and 84. disposed in axial alignment and'adapted to be respectively connected with a high pressure supply line and a low pressure service line. The regulator is provided with a cylindrical member 85 secured in an opening 85 in the casing between the inlet and outlet openings 83 and 8d and formed with a passageway Bl disposed in alignment with said openings. A valve closure element 88 is arranged in said passageway and is pivotally mounted on the end of a lever 89 by a pivot 'pin 96 for regulating the flow of fluid through the inlet orifice defined by the valve seat 9!. A diaphragm t3 subdivides the regulator into upper and lower chambers 9d and with the lower chamber communicating with the passageway 8! by a slot 95 through which the lever 89 projects, this construction and arrangement of the diaphragm and valve element being similar to that described in the previous form of the invention.

In this form of the invention, however, a mercury seal is provided for venting the gaseous fluid from the lower chamber 95 in the event the pressure therein exceeds a predetermined limit. The mercury seal indicated by the reference character 97 is contained in a well 98 open at the top and secured to a member 99 located in the vertical bore I99 of a cylindrical member or weight I]. The well 98 extends upwardly through the diaphragm and projecting downwardly into the well is a vent tube H12 having its lower end disposed in spaced relation from the bottom of the well and with the side walls of the vent tube spaced from the side walls of the well to provide a peripheral space therebetween by which the well may be filled with mercury to the top thereof which will fill the peripheral space and extend upwardly in the vent tube N12 to the top of the well. The vent tube 592 is secured in a yoke I03 having its threaded lower end it extending downwardly through a central aperture in the diaphragm and threadedly engaging the cylindrical member or weight it! to secure the same and the yoke to the diaphragm. A passageway I95 opens through the side of said cylindrical member or weight and communicates at its inner end with the interior of said yoke to permit the pressure of the gaseous vapor within the lower chamber 95 to be exerted on the mercury in the well between the same and the vent tube I92. The cylindrical member or weight IilI is also formed with an opening I96 which communicates with the bore Hi9 and through which projects the lever arm 89 with the ball shaped inner end thereof disposed in a cylindrical opening I9I in the member es. The member 99 is maintained in position in the upper end of the bore I99 in the cylindrical member or weight IIiI by means of an expansion device i538 similar to the expansion device 53 in the previous form of the invention and which is located in the lower portion of the bore let. The expansion device I08 is normally maintained in fixed position in said bore by a spring detent W9 similar to the spring detent 65 in the previous form of the invention.

The vent tube 562 is slidable in an opening H0 in the top wall of the regulator to permit the same to move with the diaphragm 93. The upper end of the vent tube opens into a passageway III which communicates with a vent outlet II2 adapted to be connected with a pipeline leading to the atmosphere outside the building.

In operation, the detent m9 is set to release the expansion device 598 in the event that the gaseous pressure in the lower chamber 95 reaches a pressure of approximately of a pound per square inch when the outlet pressure at the outlet 84 is set for /i--, of a pound per square inch. The detent I99 is released by the upward. movement of the diaphragm 93 and weight II, the expansion device its being prevented from upward movement by the lever 89 so that the detent element I99 is moved upwardly beyond the upper end of the expansion device to thereby release the same. Upon release thereof, the cas ing H4 is forced downwardly against the bottom wall of the regulator and the spring H5 is compressed against the underside of the member 99 to force the lever 89 upwardly and maintain the valve element 88 in closed relation on the valve seat. In the event that there is a leak in the valve seat by which the gaseous pressure within the lower chamber increases to approximately of a pound per square inch, the mercury seal 91 will be forced upwardly in the vent tube I02 and expelled through the vent outlet I I2 so as to vent the escaping gas to pass from the lower chamber 95 through the vent tube I02 and to the atmosphere outside the building to thereby prevent escape of gas through the inlet 84.

In this type of regulator the upper chamber 95 is in communication with the vent I I2 through an opening II! in the casing to permit of the flow of air into and out of said chamber with the movement of the diaphragm.

In both of the forms of the regulators illustrated and described herein, the downward pressure due to the weight on the diaphragm has direct relation to the pressure of the gas at the outlet. Increasing the weight will increase the pressure at the outlet and decreasing the weight will effect a decrease of pressure at the outlet. As illustrated in Figure 9 of the drawings, the

:- Weight H9 on the diaphragm I29, similar to the weight illustrated in the previous form of the invention, may be augmented by a spring I2I interposed between the metallic plate or cup I22 similar to the cup 46 in the form of the invention illustrated in Figs. 1 to 6 of the drawings and a screw plug I23 adjustably secured in the casing I24 of the regulator. Varying the pressure of the spring I2l will vary the pressure of the gas at the outlet of the regulator. This form of regulator may be provided with a mercury seal I25, similar to the mercury seal 91 in the previous form of the invention, which is adapted to be broken to exhaust the gas in the lower chamber through a vent I28 when the pressure in the lower chamber exceeds a predetermined limit.

What is claimed is:

1. In a gas pressure regulator of the type described, a valve element, a lever for moving the valve element toward and away from an inlet orifice, a diaphragm mounted within the regulator and subdividing the interior thereof into upper and lower chambers with the lower chamber in communication with the inlet orifice, a weight secured to said diaphragm to maintain pressure on the diaphragm in opposition to the pressure of the gas within the lower chamber, said lever engaging said weight for movement of the valve element with the movement of the diaphragm by variation in the pressure of the gas in the lower chamber, an expansion device carried by said weight for movement with reference thereto, and a release element normally retaining said expansion device in contracted relation and functioning to release said expansion device upon upward movement of the diaphragm and weight upon increase of the pressure of the gas in the lower chamber beyond a predetermined limit whereby said expansion device is expanded and tensioned against said lever for maintaining the valve element in closed relation.

2. In a gas pressure regulator of the type described, a valve element, a lever for moving the valve element toward and away from an inlet orifice, a diaphragm mounted within the regulator and subdividing the interior thereof into upper and lower chambers with the lower chamber in communication with the inlet orifice, a weight secured to said diaphragm to maintain pressure on the diaphragm in opposition to the pressure of the gas within the lower chamber;

said lever op-eratively engaging said weight for imparting rocking movement thereto by the movement of the weight due to change of the pressure of the gas in the lower chamber acting on said diaphragm, an expansion device including a coil sprin mounted in said weight for relative movement, detent means carried by the weight for normally retaining the spring in contracted relation and functioning to release said spring by upward movement of the diaphragm and weight upon increase of the pressure of the gas in the lower chamber beyond a predetermined limit whereby said spring is tensioned against said leve* for maintaining the valve element in closed relation.

3. In a gas pressure regulator of the type described, a valve element, a lever for moving the valve element toward and away from an inlet orifice, a diaphragm mounted within the regulator and subdividing the interior thereof into upper and lower chambers with the lower chamber in communication with the inlet orifice, a weight secured to said diaphragm to maintain pressure on the diaphragm in opposition to the pressure of the gas within the lower chamber, an expansion device including a coil spring mounted in a vertically disposed opening in said weight for relative movement of the expansion device with reference to said weight, said lever extending into said weight through a side opening into over lying relation with said expansion device for imparting rocking movement to said lever by the movement of the weight due to change of pressure of the gas in the lower chamber acting on said diaphragm, and detent means carried by the weight for normally retaining the spring and said expansion device in contracted relation and functioning to release said spring by upward movement of the diaphragm and weight upon increase of the pressure of the gas in the lower chamber beyond a predetermined limit whereby the tension of said spring is exerted against the lever for maintaining the valve element in closed relation on the inlet orifice.

4. In a gas pressure regulator of the type described, a valve element, a lever for moving the valve element toward and away from an inlet orifice, a diaphragm mounted within the regulator and subdividing the interior thereof into upper and lower chambers with the lower chamber in communication with the inlet orifice, a weight secured to said diaphragm to maintain pressure on the diaphragm in opposition to the pressure of the gas within the lower chamber, said lever operatively engaging said weight for imparting rocking movement thereto by the movement of the weight due to change of the pressure of the gas in the lower chamber acting on said diaphragm, an expansion device including a coil spring mounted in said weight for relative movement, detent means carried by the weight for normally retaining the spring in contracted relation and functioning to release said spring by upward movement of the diaphragm and weight upon increase of the pressure of the gas in the lower chamber beyond a predetermined limit whereby said spring is tensioned against said lever for maintaining the valve element in closed relation, said regulator having a vent opening therethrough, a tube in communication with said vent, and a seal surrounding the inner end of said tube and subject to the pressure of the gas in the lower chamber and functioning upon increase of pressure of the gas in the lower chamber to a predetermined limit beyond the aforesaid predetermined limit to break said seal and thereby permit of the venting of the gas in the lower chamber through said vent.

VICTOR. EY.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 370,152 McSweeney Sept. 20, 1887 1,067,633 Zander July 15, 1913 1,637,085 Nichols July 26, 1927 2,296,428 Dutch Sept. 22, 1942 2,306,746 Niesmann Dec. 29, 1942 

